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Holly Roy Holly Roy, the mother of JahVai, speaks at a community event celebrating the life of her son on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (CTV News) <\/p>\nA community got together to celebrate the life of eight-year-old JahVai Roy, killed by a stray bullet in 2025. CTV News Toronto\u2019s Jon Woodward reports. <\/p>\n
A community event held in Toronto\u2019s Canoe Landing Park celebrating the life of an eight-year-old boy killed by a stray bullet in 2025 wasn\u2019t a traditional memorial but a way of turning his family\u2019s pain into purpose, said his mother.<\/p>\n
Holly Roy hoped that the lively event, with music, dancing, heartfelt speeches, and even mascots from Toronto\u2019s professional sports teams, would reflect who her son JahVai was as he lived, not as he died.<\/p>\n
Holly Roy Holly Roy, the mother of JahVai, speaks at a community event celebrating the life of her son on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (CTV News) <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I wanted to have today was something that reflected my son. He was very athletic, full of energy, compassionate,\u201d Roy said in an interview as the event got under way on Saturday.<\/p>\n
JahVai was shot and killed by a stray bullet as he slept in his mother\u2019s bed in the summer of 2025 inside their apartment at 15 Martha Eaton Way, near Trethewey Drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy entire world changed that day,\u201d Roy said with emotion at the podium in front of dozens of attendees.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I made the decision I would not allow the violence that took my son\u2019s life to define the life he lived. And I would not allow anger to consume the love that he leaves behind,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The community around that apartment was horrified and held several gatherings and vigils. Police later arrested three people, all minors.<\/p>\n
That year, the mayor\u2019s Youth Safety Task Force launched a summer safety plan, which invested $5 million in job training, arts programs, and mental health supports.<\/p>\n
Toronto\u2019s firearm discharges and shootings had been on a decline from a high of 492 in 2019 to 344 in 2023 but spiked in 2024 to a total of 462, according to police data. The following year, they were at a total of 263.<\/p>\n
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TPS firearm discharges graph <\/p>\n
At the event on Saturday, Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow spoke to the crowd, and then, with Roy, released two doves into the air.<\/p>\n
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Chow, Holly Roy Holly Roy and Olivia Chow release doves during a community event celebrating the life of 8-year-old JahVai Roy on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. <\/p>\n
Speaking later to reporters, Chow said her policy of funding programs for young people had been successful in diverting some of them away from violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cGun violence for young people has dropped by 40 per cent. But one grieving mother is too many. Which is why we need to keep moving forwards,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
CTV News reached out to her rival, Brad Bradford, whose campaign said in an email, \u201cThe Mayor can\u2019t point to one number and tell residents the job is done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too many people, Toronto has become unsafe and downright dangerous. That isn\u2019t what a city living up to its full potential looks like, and we can\u2019t have a mayor who keeps asking Torontonians to settle for the status quo,\u201d the statement said, reiterating Bradford\u2019s promise to hire 1,000 more frontline police officers.<\/p>\n